Ultimate guide to light therapy glasses: benefits, uses, and top picks for 2025
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Light therapy glasses are becoming more and more popular. You might have heard that they can potentially improve mood, sleep, and energy levels. However, the real question is whether this actually works.
Nowadays, you can find many light therapy glasses, which are a convenient and portable alternative to traditional light boxes. In other words, you can take them with you even when you’re traveling.
So, I spend hours working with the Cybernews research team to summarize and systematize all the information about the five best light therapy glasses. Thus, this guide is based on a thorough investigation and expert insights. Let’s learn more.
Top 5 light therapy glasses – shortlist
- Luminette3 – overall best light therapy glasses
- Retimer 3 – best blue light therapy glasses
- AYO+ – best light therapy glasses for relaxation
- Pegasi 2 – best glasses for boosting your mood
- Meinno – best sunlight glasses
Our team of in-house researchers, writers and editors reviews and analyzes health tech products using a research-driven approach. We gather data from multiple sources, fact-check all information, and conduct our research based on peer-reviewed studies, expert opinions, consumer ratings, and regulatory approvals.
You can learn more about how we test health tech products here.
The best light therapy glasses compared
Before I dive into my individual review, I decided to compile a comparison table. Here, you can see the differences in features and suitability of my five best light therapy glasses. Let’s have a look:
| Model name | Light spectrum | Session duration | Typical battery life | Best for |
| Luminette3 | Blue-enriched white light | 30 minutes | 10-12 hours | Boosting your mood and enhancing your sleep |
| Retimer 3 | Blue-green light | 60 minutes | Up to 6 hours | Improving sleep quality |
| AYO+ | Blue-turquoise light | 20 minutes | 7 days | Relaxing while reading |
| Pegasi 2 | Blue-green light | 30 minutes | 7 days | Improving your mood |
| Meinno | Low-intensity blue light | 30 minutes | 2 hours | Boosting your energy and improving focus |
The best light therapy glasses – our detailed list
After going briefly through my top picks, it’s time to learn more about them. So, let’s explore my detailed reviews to get a better idea:
1. Luminette3 – best light therapy glasses in 2025
| Price: | Mid-tier |
| Light spectrum: | Blue-enriched white light |
| Typical battery life: | 10-12 hours |
| Best for: | May improve your mood and sleep quality |
The Luminette3 therapy glasses are at the top of my list. According to my research, these glasses claim to improve your mood, sleep quality, and help you alleviate the winter blues with only 30 minutes of wear for one week.
These glasses are a great combo of comfort. With an incredibly lightweight and ergonomic design, you can wear these therapy goggles even over your glasses. The developers claim that this device emits blue-enriched white light at a wavelength of 468nm.
2. Retimer 3 – best light therapy glasses for sleep
| Price: | Premium |
| Light spectrum: | Blue-green light |
| Typical battery life: | Up to 6 hours |
| Best for: | May improve sleep quality |
Retimer 3’s blue-green light can potentially improve your sleep quality. That’s why it got the second place on my list, but another thing that I liked is the claim of users that the battery life lasts for up to six hours.
According to the official website, Retimer 3 should help you set a regular sleep schedule. Therefore, it might positively impact your physical and mental health, which potentially improves your sleep and mood.
3. AYO+ – best light therapy glasses for relaxing
| Price: | Premium |
| Light spectrum: | Blue-turquoise light |
| Typical battery life: | 7 days |
| Best for: | Relaxing while reading |
AYO+ comes third on my list. It utilizes the power of blue-turquoise light. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, blue light may affect your body’s circadian rhythm. This may help you align your circadian clock with your lifestyle..
These glasses are believed to mimic the sun’s benefits, which may help boost energy and mood, as well as cope with winter blues. Important to note, that further research is needed to support these claims.
4. Pegasi 2 – best light therapy glasses for a better mood
| Price: | Mid-tier |
| Light spectrum: | Blue-green light |
| Typical battery life: | 7 days |
| Best for: | Enhancing your mood |
The Pegasi 2 are another of the best light therapy glasses. One of their standout features is that the company is part of the US National Foundation and has FCC, RoHS, and CE certification that speak for its quality.
The Pegasi 2 glasses are also very portable, allowing you to use them while running, exercising, brushing your teeth, eating, and even when you wear prescription glasses. On top of this, you can also use different modes via the Pegasi app.
5. Meinno – best daylight glasses for an energy boost
| Price: | Low-tier |
| Light spectrum: | Low-intensity blue light |
| Typical battery life: | 2 hours |
| Best for: | May improve energy and focus |
Last but not least are the Meinno light therapy glasses. Their low-intensity blue light at a 480 nm wavelength is believed to increase energy levels. However, further research support is needed.
On top of this, Merino glasses have a built-in timer, with three settings: 15, 30, or 45 minutes. Once you wear them for a specific time, the glasses will turn off automatically.
What are light therapy glasses and how do they work?
Light therapy glasses are wearable devices that emit specific light wavelengths. Usually, the spectrum is blue or blue-green, aiming to stimulate the effects of natural sunlight, and may help regulate your body’s circadian rhythm.
However, while some users report improvements in mood and energy, these effects are not guaranteed, and scientific support is limited and mixed.
Additionally, light therapy glasses have other unique features. Some of the most important ones are the portable design that lets you wear them throughout the day. Also, they might offer adjustable intensity so you can control the brightness. Plus, light therapy glasses are rechargeable, which makes them convenient for daily use while doing all of your activities.
Benefits of light therapy glasses
So far, I’ve mentioned some of the benefits. But don’t worry. I’ve got your back. Let’s go through the most prominent benefits of these glasses in more detail:
- Improved mood: According to the Cleveland Clinic, light therapy is believed to improve mood, usually in cases of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Still, more research is needed to confirm the efficacy.
- Enhanced energy levels: Another potential benefit of light therapy glasses is the improved energy level. A study revealed that light therapy glasses may reduce fatigue and boost alertness throughout the day. However, note that energy is highly subjective, so it can’t really be measured directly.
- Better sleep patterns: Blue lights can affect melatonin production, making it more difficult for you to sleep. That’s why light therapy glasses use low-intensity blue-white light that affects melatonin secretion, potentially improving your sleep pattern.
- Reduced jet lag: Closely related to the sleep pattern is also the ability to adjust to new time zones faster. The light therapy glasses may help you adapt to new time zones as they may help mimic natural daily light patterns. But note that the effectiveness of light therapy for jet lag is based on theoretical models, meaning clinical validation is lacking
Light glasses vs light boxes
If you’re wondering whether to go for light glasses or light boxes, you first need to understand the differences between them. That’s why I compiled a list of the aspects that make light glasses stand out from traditional light boxes. Here are some of the crucial ones you should remember:
- Portability: The first and most noticeable thing is the convenience. Light therapy glasses are highly portable, as you can wear them everywhere and take them even when you’re traveling. On the other hand, light boxes are bulky and aren’t very easy to take with you.
- Ease of use: As I mentioned, you can use the glasses while moving around. This means that you can run, read, relax, or even brush your teeth with light therapy glasses. In comparison, light boxes are stationary, preventing you from moving them around.
- Intensity and exposure: Last but not least, traditional light boxes often emit bright light of 10,000 lux. Compared to them, light therapy glasses are believed to provide similar effects with lower light intensity.
What’s the difference between white light, blue light and green light?
Based on research, all light spectrums have different uses. That’s why I broke down the differences between white, blue, and green light. Here’s a brief overview:
- White light: Light therapy glasses have a broad white light spectrum. Usually, they use an intensity of around 1,500 lux. In fact, they may help imitate natural sunlight. Also, this light may help regulate circadian rhythms and improve mood by affecting your serotonin and melatonin levels.
- Blue light: Blue-enriched white light, or specific blue light wavelengths, may stimulate the body’s response to sunlight. That’s because they regulate circadian rhythms, which may impact your energy levels, enhance alertness, and improve your focus.
- Green light: Although there’s still research needed, green light therapy is suggested to help with mood regulation. However, the evidence for such claims is lacking at this point.
Side effects of light therapy glasses
Unfortunately, not all things are bright. Although there are some potentially positive effects of light therapy glasses, you can occasionally experience some side effects. Among the most common are:
- Eye strain or discomfort: Sometimes, you can experience eye irritation. This usually happens if you don’t use the glasses properly or for too long. Also, some people claim that even the blue light can irritate their eyes.
- Headaches: If you’re sensitive to light or overuse the glasses for more than the recommended session time, you can potentially encounter headaches.
- Sleep disruption: Using light therapy glasses at the wrong time of the day may disrupt your sleep. This usually happens if you use them in the evening, as they can interfere with your melatonin production, which makes it challenging for you to fall asleep.
- Skin sensitivity: Last but not least, there are some rare cases of skin irritation when using light therapy glasses. This is often the case with red light therapy glasses, potentially causing itching or rash.
Disclaimer: Follow manufacturer guidelines closely and consult a healthcare provider if symptoms occur or if you have an eye condition.
How to choose the best light therapy glasses for your needs?
When choosing the best light therapy glasses, you need to consider a few crucial factors. To have a clear image, I prepared a detailed list. Here’s a brief overview:
- Light intensity: The light intensity is usually measured in lux. That said, you need to determine the right level for your needs, depending on what you want to achieve from the treatment.
- Type of light: Again, once you have a specific goal you want to achieve, such as mood improvement, sleep quality enhancement, you need to decide between white, blue, or another type of light.
- Comfort and fit: In order to use the glasses for a longer period and not experience discomfort, you should look for lightweight and adjustable designs. This will enhance the ergonomic wear and comfort wear.
- Battery life: Also, you should always consider light therapy glasses that last for travel and daily use. That’s why you should check the battery life and make sure that you can use them for the amount of time that fits you the best..
- App integration: Last but not least, you should look for glasses that have app integration. This allows you to connect with different apps and customize the usage mode.
How to use light therapy glasses?
To get the most out of your light therapy glasses, you need to consider a few factors. First of all, you need to use them for an optimal amount of time. The best is to use them in the morning for around 20-30 minutes, but usage protocols may vary.
Another thing to consider is the positioning. This means that you should wear the glasses comfortably, making sure the light reaches the eyes for the best potential effect. For the exposure, you need to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Last but not least, remember to stay consistent. This means that it’s crucial to wear it regularly to get the best results. Usually, you need to wear the glasses every day for a week.
Our methodology
Together with the Cybernews research team, I reviewed various light therapy glasses. To achieve unbiased and first-hand information, I followed our testing criteria. That said, I considered:
- Product reviews: I spend hours going through product reviews of numerous light therapy glasses. This allowed me to explore more about the features, pricing, and the potential effects you can get from the expert’s point of view.
- Customer feedback: In order to provide you with first-hand information, I also went through customer feedback. This helped me investigate the actual performance of the glasses, not just the advertised features.
- Manufacturer specifications: Ultimately, I also reviewed the manufacturer specifications of each light therapy glasses. Thus, I could compare the specifications with the actual performance.
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Final word on best light therapy glasses
Light therapy glasses are becoming a popular solution for people who want to improve their mood, sleep quality, and take care of winter blues. These glasses usually implement blue-green lights that may have a positive impact on the circadian rhythm.
My overall best pick is Luminette3, which users claim has good results, short wear periods, and a long battery life. Similar to Retimer 3, although it focuses on potentially improving sleep quality.
Aside from these two options, you can also go for AYO+, Pegasi 2, and Meinno therapy glasses. Due to them, you may experience improvement in your mood, sleep, and focus, respectively. However, the ultimate choice depends on your needs.
FAQ
How long should I wear light therapy glasses each day?
While there’s no scientific research behind this, manufacturers of light therapy glasses recommend using them for 20-30 minutes each day.
Are light therapy glasses safe for long-term use?
While light therapy glasses are generally safe, they may cause some side effects for long-term use. Some of the most common side effects can be eye irritation, headaches, and sleep disruption when used during the wrong period. Always follow usage instructions and consult a professional if unsure.
Can I wear light therapy glasses while working or reading?
Yes, usually you can wear light therapy glasses while working or reading. This is because they’re easily portable and comfortable to wear during any activity, such as the Luminette3 glasses. But for this to be safe, you need to keep an eye on the duration of the session. That’s why it’s best to use glasses with an automatic turn-off feature, so you don’t overuse them and experience potential issues.
Do light therapy glasses work for jet lag?
Light therapy glasses might also work for jet lag. However, for this to be effective, you may need to use the glasses in the morning, so the exposure to blue light can mimic the morning light. Still, you should note that more research is needed to confirm these claims.
